Development Assistant (Temporary, Part-Time)

GrubStreet is the leading literary arts center in the country, located in the Seaport District in Boston, Massachusetts. We are a passionate and dedicated team of professionals who take pride in our work and are committed to creating a warm and supportive work environment. We are currently seeking a Development Assistant (Temporary, Part-Time) to support prospect research, donor database management, and fundraising operations projects during Summer 2026.

The Development Assistant will support the Development team with prospect research, donor data management, and fundraising operations. A major focus of this role will be helping the team utilize ProspectView Online and DonorSearch tools to identify and research prospective donors, community members, and institutional connections. This position is ideal for someone early in their career who enjoys research, organization, writing concise summaries, and working with data. The role offers hands-on experience with donor cultivation strategy, prospect identification, nonprofit CRM systems, and development operations within a vibrant and collaborative arts nonprofit environment. This is a temporary, part-time position (estimated 20 hours per week for six weeks) based in GrubStreet’s Boston office with hybrid flexibility.

GrubStreet strives to dismantle every system, process, or structure that would discourage any person from working with us. We actively seek diversity, equity and inclusivity because the excellence of our work and the value of its impact depend on them. We strive to create an environment where the perspectives we bring to our work are valued as much as the work we produce.

Responsibilities

Prospect Research & Development Support

• Conduct prospect research on individuals, corporations, and foundations using DonorSearch, ProspectView Online, Google, LinkedIn, and other public sources.


• Research professional affiliations, philanthropic activity, and potential relationship connections relevant to GrubStreet’s fundraising efforts.


• Assist in identifying prospective major donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation partners.


• Draft concise prospect profiles and briefing notes for Development staff.

Audience & Community Research

• Assist with prospect identification and research across key community segments, including high-engagement students and class “super-users”, board-identified prospects, current and new members, event attendees, midlevel and new donors, peer-to-peer sponsors, youth program parent/guardian audiences

Database & Data Management

• Assist with importing and updating prospect research information into donor records.


• Assist with duplicate record cleanup and donor data organization.


• Support donor database maintenance and cleanup projects in DonorPerfect.

Team Support

• Participate in Development team meetings as appropriate.


• Support administrative and operational projects related to fundraising and donor engagement.


• Assist with event preparation and donor stewardship projects as needed.

Qualifications

We acknowledge that there may be exceptional candidates who may not fulfill all these criteria, and we are aware that you might offer valuable insights, experiences, and skill sets that we haven't considered. If this resonates with you, we encourage you to submit your application and share your story with us.

• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.


• Comfort conducting online research and synthesizing information clearly and concisely.


• Interest in nonprofit development, fundraising, arts administration, or communications.


• Experience with spreadsheets, databases, or CRM systems is helpful but not required.


• Familiarity with Google Workspace preferred.


• Interest in literature, storytelling, education, or the arts is a plus.

Statement of Belonging

At GrubStreet, belonging means creating and maintaining spaces where we boldly share our voices, our experiences, and our work as writers, readers, and audience members. Every member of our community commits to engaging across differences with curiosity and a desire to learn and grow together.

Community Agreements:

• Practice cultural humility, ask questions, and engage with different perspectives


• Grace to speak in draft form and be open to making mistakes


• Check our biases and be aware of how we carry our own identity and privilege  

Position Status: Temporary, Part-Time; 20 hours/week for 6 weeks

Compensation: $18.50/hour

Position Reports to: Senior Individual Giving Officer

Location: Boston (Seaport); Hybrid 

GrubStreet’s policy is to assure equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants by prohibiting discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  This practice applies to all terms, conditions and privileges of employment including hiring, transfer, compensation, layoffs, promotions, training, benefits, termination and retirement.